As I was writing my FSU preview last night (to be posted tomorrow), I looked back at last year's 3 games versus FSU. The games were played the second weekend of the season and I had forgotten many of the details. I thought I would share them just for giggles and grins.

In order to gain a few extra games in the Covid enviroment, the ACC decided to implement the concept of Pod Play for 2021. Generally, three teams would go to a location and play each other three times. Because there is an odd number of teams, VT was selected to be in a pod that included Georgia Tech, Clemson, and FSU with each team playing 3 games against two of the other three.

The Hokies drew Clemson and Florida State. The 3 Clemson games would end up being played at Clemson and the FSU games were played at Georgia Tech.

On the surface, the FSU draw was not a great one for VT. After all, not only was FSU the preseason pick to win the ACC, but the Noles had won 13 straight over the Hokies and 19 of the previous 20. That’s UVA football rivalry territory!

Two games were scheduled for Saturday with the first game occurring at 11:00 am. Ivy Rosenberry got the start for the Hokies and gave up 3 singles in the first inning to give FSU an early run.

Grace Chavez got the run back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run, but the wheels came off the VT wagon in the third when two costly errors combined with some poor fundamental fielding decisions led to 6 Seminole runs. FSU would go on to the 7-1 win with Kathryn Sandercock throwing a complete game 3 hitter, striking out 9.

In the second game of the day, Keely Rochard got the start for VT and threw a 3-hitter of her own, striking out 7 batters in 5 innings. The Hokies exploded for 8 runs in the third, highlighted by a 3-run home run by Chavez, a 2-run shot by Kelsey Bennett and a 2-run single by Meredith Slaw. The Hokies would end up run-ruling FSU in the contest 9-1.

Sunday brought the rubber game of the series and it was Rochard versus Sandercock in the circle. Keely weaved one of her masterpieces - a complete game, one-hit shutout, striking out nine.

The Hokies got to Sandercock in the 4th inning with a Jayme Bailey double and a Darby Trull single plating two runs and driving Sandercock from the game.

Danielle Watson entered the game and limited the damage in the 4th, but gave up a 3-run blast to Cameron Fagan in the 5th before she was relieved herself after pitching only .2 innings.

Chavez then greeted reliever Emma Wilson with her third homer in three games to round out the scoring and give VT a 6-0 win.

I made a highlight video of Grace's home runs and it actually includes Cameron Fagan's 3 run bomb as well (below). But the video feed for the series consisted of a single camera behind home plate with no audio. Fans were not allowed in the stadium so there's not even cheering.

But the Hokies took 2 out of 3 so it's all good!










[Post edited by VTChip at 04/08/2022 08:43AM]